04 December 2012
The Marine Resources Panel has proposed a number of measures to help restore whelk stocks in local waters after research showed little improvement in 2012.
Members of the Marine Resources Panel heard recently that regular research work by marine resources officers from the Environment Department and information from commercial fishermen indicated that the reduced catches of recent years showed little sign of improving during 2012.
The panel are to recommend a number of fisheries management measures to the Minister for Economic Development.
The two stage approach is intended to help the recovery of the whelk stock:
- no new boats or pots should be allowed into the fishery in 2013
- a working group should be established to look in detail at a range of measures that could be used to help the recovery
Panel administrator Mike Smith said that consensus on the proposals had been more easily achieved because of the comprehensive, written proposals put forward by the industry ahead of the panel meeting. He will be forwarding the recommendations to the Minister for his consideration.
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